DOH! I think I threw a ROD or something!

[Hotsauce]

I suggest that anyone nearing the end of powertrain warranty pull the pan, and pop in a set of rod bearings as maintenence. Material cost is minimal, and not really much labor.

90% of the work is getting the pan off.

John C.

[autox-racer]

without looking under the VX what does it take to remove the pan?

Can it be pulled w/o removing engine mounts and jacking up the engine?

Is there a removeable cross member like on toyotas? I have replaced bearings on toyota trucks and it is not a bad job just because the removeable crossmember makes life so much easier.

[coachreed]

Thanks for the replies and info guys... and gal... after I posted this morning, I contacted my dealer and got my warranty information. I had purchased an extended warranty that the dealer claims is great... at least they did when I bought it. Anyway, my extended warranty covers all drivetrain and then some with a $50 deductible. I will go into the dealer tomorrow with comfidence that there is a history of trouble with these motors... however, I'd like more info if I can find it. I hear comments about EGR problems and sounds like oil pump and/or rod bearing problems as well. So is this the deal? The EGR valve malfuctions causing an excessive amount of oil usage, leading to a low oil pressure problem, leading to a main or rod bearing failure?

Once I thought about things this moring, I was thinking that I might have spun a rod bearing, and hince the reason I have what sounds like a rod knocking. It has been over 15 years since I last had a motor problem... but that car, I could pull the motor and rebuild myself... this one... well, I could probably do it, but it wouldn't be quite so easy as it has LOTS more junk to go wrong with it.

Anyway, the VX got towed there first thing this AM... at leat first thing AFTER I posted this. I got a call back today around 5:15 but I was at a customers home and couldn't answer the phone. I expect them to have some kind of answer in the AM... so I'll let you know what I find. Thanks again everyone!

TTYL!

[coachreed]

Got a call from the dealer today... the service writer said that the oil was dry AGAIN! I lost three quarts of oil in a few miles? How could this be possible? He said that if he had to guess, the adjuster at the warranty company WILL NOT cover the repair! This isn't going well. I have never had a problem in the past and have ALWAYS been religious about oil changes and maintanence. HELP!

TTYL!

Coach

[autox-racer]

Can you get it out of that dealer before he submits a claim? ... take it home and add some used oil? i know this sounds like fraud but i feel like the fraud was perpetrated by isuzu since this is a know issue.

it really sucks to spend a lot of money on a awesome vehicle and have issues like this.

i do not endorse or condone my statements .. BAD ME

[VX_PA]

This is awful, the engines last long enough to make it past the end of the warranty and then they go bad. It's like we're lambs being led to slaughter ($5000 feels like slaughter to me!). I wish I did have a number of how many owners this has happened to but I don't. From what I hear the number isn't really low considering that there aren't many VX's made in the first place. If we could get an exact number made and an exact number that had engine failures we'd all probably freek when we came up with a percentage.

[Anita]

I need a little education here since I really know so little about this subject. I dont understand ... quarts of oil gone in a few miles? Doesnt that oil have to go somewhere if not on the ground or in billows of black smoke from the exhaust? If the oil pump is bad wouldnt the oil still be in its reservoir? And if oil isnt pumping throught the engine, wont it over heat and show up on the temp dial?

[AREA 51]

Do you have receipts from oil changes, with mileage notations? I know that Isuzu has a monitoring program for complaints of excessive oil consumption. If any of you are experiencing this problem, I believe they take 4 readings during a 1 month period to assess the problem and make a determination. Might make for good ammo if you use a lot of oil and have a subsequent failure.

Anita, any more info on the EGR related engine failure problems isuzu is supposed to be tracking?

[VX_PA]

I didn't have an oil loss problem. I just noticed the oil light flickering, it may not have anything to do with my engine failure. My dealer said that faulty bearings were the cause of mine. Hopefully I wasn't being lied to by my dealer, wouldn't make me happy if they did.

[Anita]

Okay this EGR thing..

I hope I can explain this half as well as I was just told. When the fuel vapors pass through the EGR tube, vapors go from hot to cold which creates carbons that clog up the tube.

When this happens, the temp of the cylinder walls rise and oil starts getting sucked up and burned out leading to cylinder failure.

My guys say that they are seeing carbon build up and the potential for serious problems with engines 45k to 60K miles. So the tube needs to be regularly cleaned.......

:sighg: :sighg:

[VX4EJR]

I hate to sound kind of silly but I couldn't find a picture or something else in any other posts......exactly where is this EGR thing?

[crager34]

Just when I am about ready to pick up a 2000 VX with close to 52,000 miles, then drive it from Kansas to California.
I read this.

[Anita]

There are MANY VX's out there with more that 45K miles that have no problems whatsoever and a few with over 100K that are trouble free who have not had this information at hand.

What it means is that you put an EGR cleaning on the calendar along with all regular maintenance to protect your investment.

Knowledge is power and this forum equips us with both.

[Andrey]

honestly, I feel weired about engine problem. How come in all flyers and ads Isuzu claimed our engines are the best, our engine blah-blah-blah

1916 - First Jap Truck
1930 - 6 wheel drive truck
1956 - Jap South Pole expedition Powered by Isuzu
1984 - Trooper introduced, soon to be Americas Best Selling Truck

Comon, Isuzu shame on you ! VX is a great product and failing engine is no excuse ! I was sold on the idea or reliability and such ! I was driving Chrysler LHS which failed impressively on me. Car had 64K and every week it cost me about $800 in repairs - so I went and bought Jap car from "trusted" and well known manufacturer. So now people have engines failing on them and Isuzu says "not our problem !" Isuzu, with such attitude towards your customers you are a doomed company. This is PATHETIC !

[Dallas4u]

I'm sure if you look at ANY auto manufacturer, even some of the most reliable, you will see engine or other major mechanical failures. On what percentage does it happen or? Who knows.

Isuzu DOES have a good reputation for high quality products in the past and present (although they tend to keep the same technology in use for a while). Now, I can't speak as to why there have been a few people, on this board even, that have had engine troubles... which could quite possibly mean that there could be the same percentage Isuzu owners driving vehicles with similar engines (Trooper, Amigo, Rodeo) having these problems as well. I haven't heard of many more cases outside of this board, so I don't know how common the problem is.

I must say, though, that just the number of people I have heard of here, on this forum, is enough to make me cautious.